DEFEATING OUR OWN WORST ENEMY
Text: 1 Samuel 24:1-7
1 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.
5 And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
6 And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.
7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
1. The Plight
- David kills Goliath in chapter 17 as a teenage boy. In chapter 24 (our text), David is a young man probably in his mid 20s.
- Following the defeat of Goliath, David became like a rock star in Israel.
Saul gets so jealous of young David that he literally goes insane. He tries to kill David by his own hand. David narrowly escapes and runs for his life.
Even after years of being on the run from Saul, Saul is
2. The Predicament
- Saul was looking for his Buc-ee’s, and he found it in the form of a cave. What he doesn’t know, however, is that David and his 600 men are in the cave hiding in the dark. When he comes up to the mouth of the cave, he can’t see them, but they can see him.
To David’s men this is the perfect opportunity to put an end to the threat of Saul and hasten what David has already been anointed to do – reign as king of Israel. (v. 4)
David is in a predicament. Does he take revenge on Saul or
3. The Principles
1) Respect belongs to
- David chose to spare Saul’s life and release him from his desire for vengeance because David had a respect for the authority that was over him. Saul was the king.
2) Vengeance belongs to
- Was Saul wrong in what he did and wanted to do toward David? Yes.
- Was it David’s job to make it right? No.
- It was God’s job. David was leaning into this principle.
3) The high road belongs to
- David quotes a proverb, a popular saying in his time. He applies it to his situation with Saul. In essence he is saying that “If I attack him, I’m only sinking down to his level.”
4. The Prevailing
David prevailed over his enemy in the cave. However, it wasn’t
Saul injured David. Then David found Saul in a vulnerable position. And in the depravity of David’s flesh he could have run Saul through with his sword. But…David prevailed. (vv. 8-9)
What was the secret to David prevailing that day? He
Forgiveness is a decision to release a person from an obligation that resulted from the offense.
How should we respond to actual or perceived mistreatment, offense, hurt, and the temptation to get even?
Here are three practical suggestions.
1) Watch your
2) Focus on the example of Jesus
3) Lay your